Lint removing surface cleaner for garments



Jan. 24, 1967 J. H. MARKS 3,299,461

LINT RMOVING SURFACE CLEANER FOR GARMENTS Filed Dec. l5, 1965 United States Patent O LINT REMOVING SURFACE CLEANER FOR GARMENTS This invention relates to a manually manipulatable and usable device which is functionally designed and structurally impremented to easily and conveniently pick up lint, loose hairs, dandrutf and similar unsightly small particles from surface portions of garments and wearing apparel, and has to do with certain new and useful improvements on my copending application Serial No. 308,159, now Patent No. 3,231,918.

Reference to my prior Patent No. 3,231,918 will reveal that it comprises, briefly stated, a normally flat but openable sleeve which is adapted to be cuffed over the lingers of -the hand to which it is attachable for use. More specifically, the device is characterized by a rectangular pliant -panel which serves as a back wall and which has both interior and exterior non-tacky faces. A second similar pliant panel serves as a companion front wall and is of a length` greater than the length of the front wall and has a non-tacky interior surface opposed the corresponding surface -of -the ,back wall. The exterior surface is adhesive-ooated and provides a tacky surface enabling the user to bring it in contact with the lint or other unsightly particles which are to be picked up and removed. This front Wall has V-shaped ends delining the bellowslike sleeve opening and closing webs which adjoin the respective ends of the two walls. The front wall is equipped with a pair of cover flaps which spread over the tacky surface and can be singly or collectively peeled to open positions to expose the single tacky surface for use in whatever manner desired.

The herein disclosed improvement also embodies overlapped end-connected pliant cardboard or equivalent panels which likewise serve as complemental front and back walls. However, and in the instant situation, both exterior Walls are preferably, but not necessarily, provided with tacky lint pick-u-p surfaces. Each such surface is covered by a single peelable film or ply of sheet material which can be stripped olf partly or fully thus appreciably adding to the over-all lint pick-up capacity. Inasmuch as the initial or starting step with the aforementioned flaps presented noticeable diculties, each cover ply is now longer than its companion wall and the extended terminal end serves not only as a starting flap, it is provided with a narrow rigidifying strip of cardboard and provides an ingenious pull-tab which is readily accessible and greatly simplie-s the cover-ply starting and peeling step.

Another improvement resides in the manner in which the pull-tabs are interrelated. This is to say, one pulltab is located at the left-hand en-d for detaching the `front cover. The other pull-tab is situated at the right-hand end for optionally freeingand peeling off the cover for the back wall.

Then, too, the overall device is larger in size and the front and back peelable cover-plies are of appreciable area and are significantly usable as intact labels. Accordingly, these two labels are made of an appropriate grade of paper and provided with printed matter, not only for advertising, but for the purpose of carrying a `diagram and instructions informing the user how to use the device for best results.

Furthermore, the superimposed terminal end portions of the walls are adhesively bonded together overlapping face-to-face in a manner to provide rm finger-grips 3,299,46l Patented Jan. 24, 1967 Mice which greatly assist in opening and closing the expansible sleeve. Not only this, the end portions of the panels or walls inwardly of the double-thickness linger-grips are provided wit-h properly paired and alignable score lines which serve as folding creases and define the spreadable and contractible connecting webs at the respective ends of the sleeve.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to -the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the improved lint removing surface cleaner for garments constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and which shows the normal flat form of the same;

FIG. 2 is an enlagred cross-section taken on the plane ofthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and indicating in phantom lines the open or expanded sleeve when in use;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective which ties in with and is based on FIG. l and which shows the nger encircling or cung sleeve in its open state; and

FIG. 5 is a view also in perspective and based on FIG. 4 and which shows the manner in which the adhesive -plies or labels are caught hold of and peeled away (partially here) to bring the tacky surfaces into play.

One cardboard or equivalent flexible `and pliant panel or wall, designated here as the -rear wall in FIG. 4 is denoted by the numeral 8. This wall is of elongated or rectangular form and is normally flat as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The interior surface of the body portion which is denoted at 10 is calendered and smooth and the entire exterior surface is coated with adhesive media to provide the desired tacky surface for lint pick-up purposes. This tacky surface is completely covered by a relatively thin ply or film of either plastic material or paper 12. The complemental and opposed as Well as correspondingly constructed front wall 14 (FIGS. 4 and 5) likewise has an adhesive coated tacky surface which is best shown and designated at 16 in FIG. 5. The respective terminal end portions of the companion pliant walls are denoted at 18. Both end portions (left and right) are the same in construction and are overlapped brought together in face-to-face relationship and glued or otherwise rmly 'bonded and connected together thus defining the flat article lillustrated'in FIG. l or the sleeve designated generally at 20 in FIGS. 4 and 5. Inwardly of the connected end portions score lines are provided as at 22 (front and back) and these score lines are aligned with each other and properly oriented and paired to define the expansible connecting webs at the left and right hand end portions of the sleeve 20. At each end there is also a third score or fold line 24 which marks the junctional or connecting point of each spreadable and contractible web. Not only do the bonded terminal end portions 18 serve as wall joining and connecting means, they also provide relatively rigid finger-grips 4which are used in opening and closing the sleeve 20. When the fold lines are brought into play they define folding creases as is also best evidenced in FIGS. 4 and 5. The connecting webs also constitute and define the desired bellows-like sleeve opening and closing feature. Instead of folding into and between the walls in V-shaped form as in my prior Patent No. 3,231,918, the web components assume the general coplanar relationship shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 when the sleeve is brought into play.

Each tacky suface is protectively and initially covered by individual plies or lms of sheet material one of which is denoted, as already mentioned at 12, the other one at the front ybeing denoted at 26. These plies are identical in construction and each ply is of a length greater than the length of the cardboard or equivalent wall to which it is normally adhesively attached. One end is flush with the coacting terminal end of the companion wall and the other end portion is extended beyond the adjacent of terminal ends 18. For sake of distinction the extended end portion of the ply 12 is denoted at 28 and a relatively narrow strip of carboard or the like 30 is attached thereto and it in conjunction with the extended end provides a reinforced flap or pull-tab. Thus the pulltab 28 and 3) .at the right in FIG. 3 for example, serves when one desires to peel off the back wall cover. The extended end portion of the other ply 26 at the left is denoted at 32 and provides a ap and one surface of this flap is likewise covered by an adhesively attached cardboard strip 34. This flap and strip together provide a second pull-tab, also emphasized in FIG. 3. It follows that selectively usable tabs are provided at opposite ends of the over-all sleeve. It is also evident that the pull-tab means 32 and 34 at the left serves to loosen and peel off the front cover ply 26.

As previously stated these peelable cover members are made of paper or plastic material (label stock) which lends itself appropriate to the printing thereon of advertising and other idicia (not detailed) whereby the overall device serves as an economical disposable advertising article.

In use one may catch hold of the tab means 28 and 30 and employ it to peel ofi" or remove the back label. Alternatively the user may catch hold of and move the tab means 32 and 34 at the left in FIGS. 3 and 5 for example to remove the front cover 26. Also in use it is the practice to push both ends in on the fold or score lines 22 in order to provide the bellows effect and to bring the sleeve 20 into play.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lint, dandruif and small particle pick-up and removing device of the class described comprising: an elongated rear wall, a duplicate elongated companion front wall opposed to and parallel with said rear wall, significant portions of the respective interior end portions only of said walls being superimposed upon each other and adhesively bonded together to positively unite said end portions in a manner to interconnect said walls and also to define and provide double-thickness finger-grips at the respective opposite ends of said walls, the lbody portions of said walls between said bonded end portions being free of connection and defining and providing an expansible and contractible open-ended sleeve which when in use is adapted to encompass the fingers of the users hand, the entire interior surfaces of said body portions being calendered and non-tacky, the entire exterior surface of at least one of said walls being coated with adhesive media and providing a tacky lint and small particle pick-up surface when patted or rubbed upon the desired spot of said garment, a first ply of flexible peelable sheet material superimposed upon adhering to and wholly covering said tacky surface, said ply being of a length greater than the surface covered thereby an-d a minimal end portion projecting beyond the corresponding terminal end portion of said one wall and constituting and providing a finger gripping ply-removing ap, sa-id flap being provided on one lengthwise side with a superimposed permanently attached stabilizing strip member free of connection with but contiguous to and paralleling the coacting bonded end port-ions of said walls and which, in conjunction with said Hap, provides a readily accessible pull-tab which assists and aids the user in grasping and stripping off said peelable sheet material and uncovering and exposing the underlying tacky surface of said one wall for use, the other one of said walls having its exterior surface likewise coated with adhesive media providing a second selectively usable tacky lint pick-up surface, and a second ply of flexible peelable sheet material superimposed upon and wholly covering said last named tacky surface, said second ply likewise being of a length greater than the surface which it covers and also having a terminal end portion projecting beyond a coinciding terminal end portion of said other wall and providing a second flap and also having a conformable stabilizing strip member superimposed on and attached to one side but free of connection with the coacting ends of said walls and providing a second accessible pull-tab, said first named tab being located at one end of the sleeve and said second named tab being located at the other end of the sleeve, and wherein portions of said walls and said peelable sheet material adjacent but `inwardly of the respective fingergrips are foldable and inwardly collapsible when said finger-grips are simultaneously caught hold of and are forcibly pressed in a direction toward each other in a manner to spread said walls apart.

2. A lint, dandruff and small particle pick-up and removing device for spot cleaning garments comprising: an elongated pliant flat-faced rear wall, a duplicate elongated pliant fiat-faced front wall opposed and parallel to said rear wall, the respective interior end portions only of said walls being superimposed upon each other and attached securely together, the body portions of said walls between said attached end portions being free of connection and defining and providing an expansible and contractible open-ended sleeve which when in use is adapted to encompass the fingers of the users hand, the entire interior surfaces of said body portions 'being calendered and nontacky, the entire exterior surface of at least one of said walls being coated with adhesive media and providing a tacky lint and small particle pick-up surface when patted or rubbed upon the desired spot of said garment, a first ply of flexible peelable sheet material superimposed upon adhering to and wholly covering said tacky surface, said ply ibeing of a length greater than the surface covered thereby and a minimal end portion projecting beyond the corresponding ,terminal end portion of said one wall and constituting and providing a finger gripping plyremoving fiap, said flap Vbeing provided on one side with a permanently attached stabilizing strip member free of connection with the coacting ends of said walls and which, in conjunction with said flap, provides a readily accessible and usable pull-tab and greatly aids in initially catching hold of and stripping the underlying tacky surface, and wherein the other one of said walls also has its entire exterior surface likewise coated with adhesive media providing a second selectively usable tacky lint pick-up surface, and a second ply of flexible peelable sheet material superimposed upon and wholly covering said last named tacky surface, said second ply likewise being of a length greater than the surface which is covers and also having a terminal end portion projecting beyond a coinciding terminal end portion of said other wall and providing a second flap and also having a conformable stabilizing strip member superimposed on and attached to one side but free of connection with the coacting ends of said walls and providing a second accessible pull-tab, said first named tab ybeing located at one end of the sleeve and said second named tab being located at the other end of the sleeve, whereby to provide selectively usable tabs, one for each peelable cover ply, the respective end portions of said walls being scored transversely across the width dimension thereof to provide folding creases, said score lines being orientated and paired in coordinating alignment, whereby the respective end portions can be manually manipuated to provide bellows`like sleeve eX- panding and collapsing means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, and wherein the attached terminal end portions of said walls are each provided with ancillary score lines located outwardly of but parallel to said rst named score lines and which when creased and folded transform said end portions into sleeve opening and closing linger-grips.

4. The combination defined in and according to claim 3 and wherein each ply of sheet material is of a character and texture to constitute and provide a label, the exterior surface of which has the capability of properly receiving and displaying printed indicia, for example, advertising and descriptive instructions explaining how the linger-grips are used and how the pull-tabs are singly and collectively usable in a manner to wholly or partly expose the aforementioned tacky surfaces for use.

Re. 25,435 Re. 25,675 2,139,377 2,293,278 2,800,215 2,913,745 3,069,273 3,082,453

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1863 Norman 15-104 11/1864 DuBonnett l5-l04 12/1938 Mull et al. 206

8/ 1942 Cates 162-205 7/1957 Converse 15l04 X 11/1959 Welvang 15-104 12/1962 Wayne 206-56 3/1963 Mutchler et al. 15-104 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/1955 France. 3 1961 Great Britain. 9/ 1958 Sweden.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LINT, DANDRUFF AND SMALL PARTICLE PICK-UP AND REMOVING DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED REAR WALL, A DUPLICATE ELONGATED COMPANION FRONT WALL OPPOSED TO AND PARALLEL WIT H SAID REAR WALL, SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE INTERIOR END PORTIONS ONLY OF SAID WALLS BEING SUPERIMPOSED UPON EACH OTHER AND ADHESIVELY BONDED TOGETHER TO POSITIVELY UNITE SAID END PORTIONS IN A MANNER TO INTERCONNECT SAID WALLS AND ALSO TO DEFINE AND PROVIDE DOUBLE-THICKNESS FINGER-GRIPS AT THE RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID WALLS, THE BODY PORTIONS OF SAID WALLS BETWEEN SAID BONDED END PORTIONS BEING FREE OF CONNECTION AND DEFINING AND PROVIDING AN EXPANSIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE OPEN-ENDED SLEEVE WHICH WHEN IN USE IS ADAPTED TO ENCOMPASS THE FINGERS OF THE USER''S HAND, THE ENTIRE INTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID BODY PORTIONS BEING CALENDERED AND NON-TACKY, THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF A LEAST ONE OF SAID WALLS BEING COATED WITH ADHESIVE MEDIA AND PROVIDING A TACKY LINT AND SMALL PARTICLE PICK-UP SURFACE WHEN PATTED OR RUBBED UPON THE DESIRED SPOT OF SAID GARMENT, A FIRST PLY OF FLEXIBLE PEELABLE SHEET MATERIAL SUPERIMPOSED UPON ADHERING TO AND WHOLLY COVERING SAID TACKY SURFACE, SAID PLY BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE SURFACE COVERED THEREBY AND A MINIMAL END PORTION PROJECTING BEYOND THE CORRESPONDING TERMINAL END PORTION OF SAID ONE WALL AND CONSTITUTING AND PROVIDING A FINGER GRIPPING PLY-REMOVING FLAP, SAID FLAP BEING PROVIDED ON ONE LENGTHWISE SIDE WITH A SUPERIMPOSED PERMANENTLY ATTACHED STABILIZING STRIP MEMBER FREE OF CONNECTION WITH BUT CONTIGUOUS TO AND PARALLELING THE COACTING BONDED END PORTIONS OF SAID WALLS AND WHICH, IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID FLAP, PROVIDES A READILY ACCESSIBLE PULL-TAB WHICH ASSISTS AND AIDS THE USER IN GRASPING AND STRIPPING OFF SAID PEELABLE SHEET MATERIAL AND UNCOVERING AND EXPOSING THE UNDERLYING TACKY SURFACE OF SAID ONE WALL FOR USE, THE OTHER ONE OF SAID WALLS HAVING ITS EXTERIOR SURFACE LIKEWISE COATED WITH ADHESIVE MEDIA PROVIDING A SECOND SELECTIVELY USABLE TACKY LINT PICK-UP SURFACE, AND A SECOND PLY OF FLEXIBLE PEELABLE SHEET MATERIAL SUPERIMPOSED UPON AND WHOLLY COVERING SAID LAST NAMED TACKY SURFACE, SAID SECOND PLY LIKEWISE BEING OF A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE SURFACE WHICH IT COVERS AND ALSO HAVING A TERMINAL END PORTION PROJECTING BEYOND A COINCIDING TERMINAL END PORTION OF SAID OTHER WALL AND PROVIDING A SECOND FLAP AND ALSO HAVING A CONFORMABLE STABILIZING STRIP MEMBER SUPERIMPOSED ON AND ATTACHED TO ONE SIDE BUT FREE OF CONNECTION WITH THE COACTING ENDS OF SAID WALLS AND PROVIDING A SECOND ACCESSIBLE PULL-TAB, SAID FIRST NAMED TAB BEING LOCATED AT ONE END OF THE SLEEVE AND SAID SECOND NAMED TAB BEING LOCATED AT THE OTHER END OF THE SLEEVE, AND WHEREIN PORTIONS OF SAID WALLS AND SAID PEELABLE SHEET MATERIAL ADJACENT BUT INWARDLY OF THE RESPECTIVE FINGERGRIPS ARE FOLDABLE AND INWARDLY COLLAPSIBLE WHEN SAID FINGER-GRIPS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY CAUGHT HOLD OF AND ARE FORCIBLY PRESSED IN A DIRECTION TOWARD EACH OTHER IN A MANNER TO SPREAD SAID WALLS APART. 